Role In Management Research Articles

Telecommuting and Travel Behaviour: A Survey of White-Collar Employees in Adelaide, Australia

COVID-19 prompted a significant number of employees to shift to remote work for the first time, potentially reshaping future work patterns. This study examines the post-COVID impacts on telecommuting, commuting behaviour, travel activities, and lifestyles in the city of Adelaide, South Australia. A multivariate nominal logistic regression analysis of 305 post-restriction survey responses revealed that home distance from the CBD, industry, occupation, and income significantly influence post-COVID telecommuting trends. Individuals living over 20 kilometres from the CBD, those in professional or managerial roles, and higher-income earners (>125k) are more prone to regular telecommuting, highlighting the impact of commute lengths, job flexibility, and financial resources on the ability to work remotely. The study revealed a higher adoption of telecommuting post-COVID, with more individuals working from home and telecommuting more often each week. This led to reduced usage of private cars and public transport, indicating a decrease in overall travel frequency. Respondents also adopted flexible work schedules, resulting in fewer peak-hour commutes, which would have resulted in lower congestion and emissions and led to more sustainable travel practices. The study also investigated future telecommuting perspectives, revealing a preference for remote work 3–4 days a week. Some respondents who initially could not telecommute have since considered it feasible and want to adopt it. Notably, about 25% of respondents would even change jobs for flexible, home-based work arrangements. The study’s results suggest that remote work frequency may influence individuals’ future house location preferences. These findings offer valuable insights for sustainable transport and urban planning considerations in the post-COVID era.

Church Governance—A Philosophical Approach to a Theological Challenge in an Anglican Context

Church governance is not often debated within a philosophical or theological sphere. This is perhaps because church governance has been part of tradition since Constantine and the initial Greek philosophical world view of sovereignty and hierarchy. Such a stance has led towards a managerial mindset that follows and conforms to the world, which plays out within the Anglican polity in the setting of an adversarial parliamentary style synod. This style encourages bounded communities of power that often refute the burgeoning inspirations of the Spirit. In changing the underlying theological basis of such a stance, by invoking the understanding of an undeniable community in the singularity of the Triune God, governance becomes more open. Engaging with, primarily, Agamben but also others from philosophy, a new viewpoint is presented to challenge the manner through which tradition is wielded as the only possibility. In seeing through a differing lens, communities can be conceived as both porous and interconnected, thus allowing the body of Christ to respond with transformative action as opposed to a continuum of conformance with secular legality. In this manner, the bishop’s role may become more centralised towards a Eucharistic one, as opposed to the managerial mindset and role, to enhance the possibilities of God’s love. This then removes the need for a hierarchy driven by a sovereign mindset that tradition bolsters, whilst maintaining loving and authoritative oversight that tradition suggests.

Enhancing construction site performance through technology and management practices as material waste mitigation in the Malaysian construction industry

The construction industry, increasingly prioritizing sustainability, necessitates an exploration of technology and management's role in mitigating material waste at construction sites. This study examines the impact of 3R, IBS, BIM, and MMA in enhancing Construction Site Performance (CSP) in the Malaysian construction sector. Seven hypotheses were formulated to assess the relationship between technology adoption, material management practices, and the moderating influence of Material Management Adoption (MMA) on CSP. Data were collected through an online survey from 295 valid responses in the Malaysian construction sector, focusing on professionals involved in solid waste management. Utilizing Partial Least Squares - Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), the findings highlight the importance of technological integration, efficient material management, and competitive strategies in effective material waste mitigation. Furthermore, the qualitative aspect of the study, conducted among 6 solid waste organizations in Malaysia, enriches the findings by providing nuanced insights into local practices and challenges. Emphasizing the importance of contextual insights, the study addresses professionals involved in solid waste management within the Malaysian construction industry. The geographical specificity adds depth to the analysis, offering a comprehensive understanding of regional dynamics. Despite acknowledging limitations in technology and material usage, the study offers recommendations for refining waste mitigation and improving construction site performance. This research model offers actionable insights for construction site stakeholders, emphasizing the criticality of waste mitigation and CSP. The results, both quantitative and qualitative, underscore the potential of these practices within the Malaysian construction industry to foster innovation and drive positive change.

Why women on corporate boards are more than just tokens: an Indian perspective

Purpose Situated in the context of India, where women’s representation on corporate boards remains low, this study aims to explore whether and how tokenism impacts the behaviours of female directors. Design/methodology/approach The boardroom experiences and perceptions of 14 women directors are explored through semi-structured interviews and analysed using an inductive and interpretive process. Also, to get a counter perspective and avoid the social desirability bias from the women participants’ responses, 16 men directors are interviewed. Findings The study finds that, as gender minorities, women directors' visibility on boards can create performance pressures on these women. To counter gender-based prejudices, women directors consciously alter their behaviours and project both male and female traits consistent with the director role. By doing so, women directors overcome tokenistic stereotypes and are accepted as part of the director in-group, irrespective of their numeric representation on the board. Practical implications The research has implications for governments attempting to increase women’s board presence through affirmative actions and for firms aiming to improve the gender diversity of their board composition. Originality/value These findings present an alternative perspective on women directors’ board behaviour by exploring the applicability of Western trends on tokenism and critical mass in the context of India, adding to the vast body of literature concerned with minorities on corporate boards.

Women Directors: An Empirical Test of Critical Mass Hypothesis

This paper offers integrated theoretical-based empirical evidence regarding the role of female directors in promoting corporate common good using resource dependency model built on critical mass hypothesis. Using panel regression involving 220 firm-year observations from 2011 to 2021, the paper empirically assesses the moderating impacts of diversity and social inclusion policy, and gender-based power separation in determining the direction of causality between composition of female directors and foreign capital importation by the top 20 commercial banks in Nigeria. With approximately 30 per cent female director representation in the sampled banks (i.e., optimal gender threshold), the paper offers support to critical mass hypothesis and validates intrinsic benefits of women in corporate boardroom. The empirical result shows that female director representation in boards with strong diversity and social inclusion policy and greater independent non-executive directors, is positively linked to resource dependency role of foreign capital importation. Diversity of power separation is found to be detrimental to such board tasks due to overwhelming tokenism effect that surrounds gender-based power delineation. These key findings are statistically significant and robust to a series of iterated sensitivity tests. In addition to offering emerging market contributions to the growing literature on critical mass theory application, findings from this study demonstrate the inherent value of combining multiple governance theories (such as resource dependency and critical mass models) and the dynamic research framework opportunities it offers for robust empirical testing.

How do gender diversity and CEO profile impact dividend policy in banking? Evidence from Islamic and conventional banks

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the determinants of the dividend distribution policy in a banking setting.Design/methodology/approachUsing a sample of 48 Islamic banks and 94 conventional banks from 15 Islamic countries over a period spanning from 2012 to 2019, we document the effect of board gender diversity, executive director profile and governance mechanisms on dividend payment decisions. We also analyze the moderating effect of Islamic banks on the relationship between gender diversity and dividend policy.FindingsWe find new evidence on the role of women directors in determining dividend distribution policy and confirm the risk aversion hypothesis, hence contributing to the ongoing debate on gender diversity literature. Our results show that the moderating role of Islamic banks is effective only for small banks.Practical implicationsOur findings have practical implications for shareholders, managers and financial analysts as they suggest rationalizing dividend distribution strategies.Originality/valueOur study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on dividend policy, gender diversity and Islamic banks.

Moiré Pattern Controlled Phonon Polarizer Based on Twisted Graphene.

Twisted van der Waals materials featuring Moiré patterns present new design possibilities and demonstrate unconventional behaviors in electrical, optical, spintronic, and superconducting properties. However, experimental exploration of thermal transport across Moiré patterns has not been as extensive, despite its critical role in nanoelectronics, thermal management, and energy technologies. Here, thefirst experimental study is conducted on thermal transport across twisted graphene, demonstrating a phonon polarizer concept from the rotational misalignment between stacked layers. The direct thermal and acoustic measurements,structural characterizations, and atomistic modeling, reveal a modulation up to 631% in thermal conductance with various Moiré angles, while maintaining a high acoustic transmission. By comparing experiments with density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulations, mode-dependent phonon transmissions are quantified based on the angle alignment of graphene band structures and attributed to the coupling among flexural phonon modes. The agreement confirms the dominant tuning mechanisms in adjusting phonon transmission from high-frequency thermal modes while having negligible effects on low-frequency acoustic modes near Brillouin zone center. This study offers crucial insights into the fundamental thermal transport in Moiré structures, opening avenues for the invention of quantum thermal devices and new design methodologies based on manipulations of vibrational band structures and phonon spectra.

Development of Municipal Energy Management as Trigger of Future Energy Savings

Directive 2018/844/EU on energy efficiency claims that almost 80% of the final energy consumption in the EU is used within the buildings. The subsequent Directive (EU) 2023/1791 introduced in 2023 expected 68% of the world population to live in urban areas. Both directives enhanced the role of energy management (EM) applied to the city buildings. This paper introduces the development of energy management in Czech municipalities between the years 2009 and 2023. The main goal of this article is to present selected results of the unique national survey focused on the energy management in Czech municipalities conducted in 2023 and compare it with results of national surveys implemented in 2009 and 2018. The main method is the comparing of two surveys conducted among the municipal representatives or energy managers in the past with the new survey conducted in 2023. The results show that EM became a notably more important issue for most Czech municipalities. The number of cities collecting data on energy consumption grew by 288% and the number of city energy managers increased by 57%. On the other hand, the used potential of energy savings triggered by establishing EM was insufficient and only 4% of the respondents claimed high and exactly measured savings because of EM. This article should be applied to the stress power of municipal EM in performing energy efficiency and RES projects and encouraging the government to support municipal energy managers in their complex role.

Impact of Board Gender Diversity and Derivatives Use on Firm Risk

In the wake of the recent global pandemic, COVID-19, companies need to maintain performance and manage firm risk. Companies should understand what can affect the firm's risk. This paper investigates the impact of board diversity and derivatives use on firm risk. The sample consists of 35 Indonesian LQ45 listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange with an observation period of 2016–2020. The company's risk is proxied by the standard deviation of stock returns. This study uses a panel data regression model, namely fixed effect regression and random effect regression. The results of this study indicate that female board directorship is negatively associated with firm risk. It shows the significant role of female board directors in the company's board. Meanwhile, the use of derivatives has no significant effect on the firm risk. These results impact the development of literature that examines the influence of board diversity and the use of derivatives for hedging in Indonesia so that companies can determine company policies to reduce risk.

Board independence, women directors and firm performance in Malaysian small-cap firms

This study examined how board independence and female directors (i.e., women in leadership) affected the performance of Malaysian small-cap firms. Small-cap firms trading on the Bursa Malaysia ACE (Access, Certainty Efficiency) market were the subject of this study due to the less strict listing standards imposed on them than large-listed firms. The 2012-2014 annual reports of firms listed on the ACE market were downloaded through the Bursa Malaysia website and the required data was hand-collected. The hypotheses were tested using quantile regression (QR). The data reveal that board independence and firm performance are unrelated unless company performance is in the 0.10 quantile. Board independence has a negative impact on business performance at the 0.10 quantile. Similarly, the connection between women directors and business success was negative in the lower quintiles particularly in the 0.10 and 0.30 quantiles. Nevertheless, in other quantiles, board independence and the presence of female directors on firm performance were not associated. The significance of the study lies in the possibility that small firms might find it excessively expensive to comply with the Malaysian Code of Corporate Governance (MCCG). This study examines the hitherto ignored roles of board independence and women directors in small-cap enterprises on firm performance.

Multifarious plant growth-promoting traits of mangrove yeasts: growth enhancement in mangrove seedlings (Rhizophora mucronata) for conservation.

Plant Growth-Promoting Yeasts (PGPY) have garnered significant attention in recent years; however, research on PGPY from mangroves remains a largely unexplored frontier. This study, therefore, focused on exploring the multifaceted plant growth-promoting (PGP) capabilities of yeasts isolated from mangroves of Puthuvype and Kumbalam. The present work found that manglicolous yeasts exhibited diverse hydrolytic properties, with the predominance of lipolytic activity, in addition to other traits such as phosphate solubilization, and production of indole acetic acid, siderophore, ammonia, catalase, nitrate, and hydrogen cyanide. After screening for 15 PGP traits, three strains P 9, PV 23, and KV 35 were selected as the most potent ones. These strains also exhibited antagonistic activity against fungal phytopathogens and demonstrated resilience to abiotic stresses, making them not only promising biocontrol agents but also suited for field application. The potent strains P 9, PV 23, and KV 35 were molecularly identified as Candida tropicalis, Debaryomyces hansenii, and Aureobasidium melanogenum, respectively. The potential of these strains in enhancing the growth performance of mangrove seedlings of Rhizophora mucronata, was demonstrated using the pot-experiment. The results suggested that the consortium of three potent strains (P 9, PV 23, and KV 35) was more effective in increasing the number of shoot branches (89.2%), plant weight (87.5%), root length (83.3%), shoot height (57.9%) and total leaf area (35.1%) than the control seedlings. The findings of this study underscore the significant potential of manglicolous yeasts in contributing to mangrove conservation and restoration efforts, offering a comprehensive understanding of their diverse plant growth-promoting mechanisms and highlighting their valuable role in sustainable ecosystem management.

Enhancing customer segmentation in Chinese city commercial banks: A machine learning approach

This paper examines the progression and implementation of customer segmentation theory in banking, focusing particularly on an improved RFM (Recency, Frequency, Monetary) model. It highlights the essential role of identifying high-value customers for the sustained growth and success of commercial banks. The study elucidates the pivotal role of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and detailed management in the realm of retail banking as crucial for achieving success. By analyzing real-case scenarios from the Chinese banking sector, this paper illuminates the evolving nature of customer segmentation theory and its varied applications. The objective is to provide insightful and practical recommendations for commercial banks aiming to develop or enhance their customer segmentation frameworks. This research contributes both to the theoretical understanding of customer segmentation and offers a pragmatic guide for banks seeking to improve their customer management approaches in a market that is becoming increasingly competitive.

Liquid biopsy using non-coding RNAs and extracellular vesicles for breast cancer management.

This article examines liquid biopsy using non-coding RNAs and extracellular vesicles in detail. Liquid biopsy is emerging as a prominent non-invasive diagnostic tool in the treatment of breast cancer. We will elucidate the roles of these molecules in early detection, monitoring treatment effectiveness, and prognostic assessment of breast cancer. Additionally, the clinical significance of these molecules will be discussed. We aim to delve into the distinct characteristics of these molecules and their possible roles in breast cancer management, with an anticipation of their contribution to future diagnostic and therapeutic advancements.

Association of lipid-modifying therapy with risk of obstructive sleep apnea: A drug-target mendelian randomization study

BackgroundObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is considered to be an important contributor of dyslipidemia. However, there lacks observational studies focusing on the potential effect of lipid management on OSA risk. Thus, we aimed to investigate the genetic association of lipid-modifying therapy with risk of OSA. MethodsA drug-target mendelian randomization (MR) study using both cis-variants and cis-expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) of lipid-modifying drug targets was performed. The MR analyses used summary-level data of genome wide association studies (GWAS). Primary MR analysis was conducted using inverse-variance-weighted (IVW) method. Sensitivity analysis was performed using weighted median (WM) and MR-pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) methods. ResultsGenetically proxied low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)-lowering effect of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) was associated with reduced risk of OSA (odds ratio [OR] =0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.60–0.94, false discovery rate [FDR] q value = 0.046). A significant MR association with risk of OSA was observed for CETP expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue (OR = 0.94, 95%CI: 0.89–1.00, FDR q value = 0.049), lung (OR = 0.94, 95%CI: 0.89–1.00, FDR q value = 0.049) and small intestine (OR = 0.96, 95%CI: 0.93–1.00, FDR q value = 0.049). No significant effects of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)-raising effect of CETP inhibition, LDL-C-lowering and triglycerides-lowering effect of other drug targets on OSA risk were observed. ConclusionsThe present study presented genetic evidence supporting the association of LDL-C-lowering therapy by CETP inhibition with reduced risk of OSA. These findings provided novel insights into the role of lipid management in patients with OSA and encouraged further clinical validations and mechanistic investigations.

AI adoption rate and corporate green innovation efficiency: Evidence from Chinese energy companies

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has led to transformative shifts in the human landscape. Moreover, as a potent driving force behind the evolution of energy companies, green innovation has the potential to be supported by advanced technologies such as AI. However, academic research exploring the association between the AI adoption rate and green innovation in energy companies is scarce. This study analyzes data on Chinese listed energy companies from 2010 to 2020. Our findings indicate that energy companies with extensive AI adoption exhibit higher green innovation efficiency. This finding is particularly pronounced among firms that report substantial participation in environmental, social, and governance activities. However, our findings reveal that executives who focus on short-term benefits can undermine the positive influence of AI adoption on green innovation. These main findings are notably significant for energy companies where the roles of chief executive officer and board director are unified, state-owned enterprises, and companies that do not hold bank shares. This study offers novel insights and valuable guidance for policymakers regarding the strategic development of energy companies, thereby bridging a significant gap in the literature.

The Role of the Matahari Women's Group in Forest Area Management through the Village Forest Scheme in the Social Forestry Program in Sekabuk Village, Sadaniang District, Mempawah Regency.

This study aims to determine the role of Sekabuk Village women's involvement in managing forest areas through the Social Forestry Program (PS). The method used in this study is a qualitative research method with a descriptive approach. The data source in the study was obtained through semi-structural, in-depth interviews with 7 key informants, which were determined through purposive sampling techniques. The writing of this thesis aims to provide an understanding of the implementation of social forestry programs involving the role of women in Sekabuk Village. The problem of the lack of involvement of women in resource management around the area that occurs in Sekabuk Village is quite interesting to study, considering that most of the Sekabuk Village area is a forest area. Based on the research conducted, the participation of women in Sekabuk Village was obtained through granting forest management rights by issuing group decrees, increasing women's capacity by providing training, developing forest-based economic businesses for women's groups, providing women's empowerment in forest area management, and conducting supervision and evaluation. So, the role of Sekabuk Village women in playing an active role in forest area management was revealed.

Incentive mechanism of multiple green innovation behaviors of equipment manufacturing enterprises: A managers, green coordination groups and employees perspective.

Employees play a pivotal role in the implementing of green development strategies and the attainment of dual-carbon objectives within manufacturing enterprises. Effective motivation of employees, fostering consensus on environmental protection, increased engagement in environmental initiatives, and the cultivation of employee cohesion are all vital for fostering green development within these enterprises. This paper seeks to elucidate the roles of general managers, green coordination groups (GCG), and employees in actualizing green behaviors. Furthermore, it advocates for a double incentive model to be employed in the implementing of green strategies within manufacturing enterprises. The research reveals that multiple factors, including incentive intensity, green capability, effort cost, risk aversion, and green variance, significantly influence the formulation of incentive contracts for green behaviors. The motivation level of the general manager directly impacts the efforts of the GCG, the organization's green climate, the manager's individual efforts, and indirectly influences the motivation and efforts of employees towards green behaviors. Notably, the influence of the organization's green climate on employees surpasses than on the manager, underscoring the imperative for collaboration efforts between the general manager and GCG to instill green behaviors among employees. Hence, it is imperative for the general manager and GCG to collaborate not only on critical aspects of green strategy implementation but also in fostering green behaviors among employees. This collaboration will facilitate the development of a multi-layer incentive mechanism aimed at promoting and facilitating the adoption of green behaviors among employees, thus contributing to the advancement of theory regarding employees' green behaviors and offering practical guidance for effectively realizing dual-carbon targets and achieving high-quality development within enterprises.

The organisational context of middle management role behaviour in Hungarian schools

ABSTRACT Growing evidence suggests that the effectiveness of a school’s operations is determined not by a single leader, but by a community of leaders. Middle managers can coordinate processes in formal positions and lead informal groups, facilitating the realisation of leadership goals. This study utilises a large-scale survey to analyse middle managers’ perceptions of organisational learning and discuss their additional supporting roles and responsibilities considering organisational-level contingency variables in a centralised education system (Hungary). How can middle management function in a centralised educational system? How can it act as a ‘bridge’ and support organisational and individual learning? Our findings reveal that middle managers perceive leadership similarly to school staff (i.e. in terms of learning organisational behaviour), while principals’ perceptions significantly differ. The study examined teachers’ perceptions of organisational learning in various positions according to school size and type. It was found that middle managers play a more prominent role in smaller schools compared to larger ones, as they are more likely to utilise their strategic role in contexts with a more cohesive community. These findings suggest that the function of middle management should be better exploited in larger organisations.

Shareholders in the Driver’s Seat: Unraveling the Impact on Financial Performance in Latvian Fintech Companies

Fintech companies are relatively young and operate in a rapidly evolving and ever-changing industry, which makes it important to understand how different factors, including shareholder presence in management roles, affect their performance. This study investigates the impact of shareholder presence in director and manager positions on the financial performance of Latvian fintechs. Our investigation centers on essential financial ratios, including Return on Assets, Return on Equity, Profit Margin, Liquidity Ratio, Current Ratio, and Solvency Ratio. Our findings suggest that the presence of shareholders in director and manager roles does not significantly affect the financial performance of fintech companies. Although the statistical analysis did not yield significant results, it is important to consider additional insights garnered from Cliff’s Delta effect sizes. Specifically, despite the lack of statistical significance, practical significance indicates that fintech companies in which directors and managers are shareholders show slightly better performance than other fintech companies. Beyond shedding light on the intricacies of corporate governance in the fintech sector, this research serves as a valuable resource for investors, stakeholders, and fellow researchers seeking to understand the impact of shareholder presence in director and manager roles on the financial performance of fintechs.

Breaking gender stereotypes in management practices: Promoting paternity leave

AbstractThis study examines the promotion of paternity leave by focusing on the role of female directors on boards. Drawing on insights from the literature on the upper echelons theory and strategic leadership, we argue that efforts to break gender stereotypes in upper‐echelon positions, particularly through female representation on boards, can promote paternity leave. Analyzing data from 633 Japanese firms between 2017 and 2021 with pooled regression models revealed that a high proportion of female directors promoted paternity leave. Additionally, it implied that the proportion of female department managers can strengthen the positive effects of female directors on paternity leave promotions. Our results contribute to the theory and practice of gender equality in organizations by providing implications for promoting crucial management practices that may be hindered by gender stereotypes.